GOOD HEALTH
Dear Family,
I hope that everyone is well.
Mazal Tov to Mendel Kehaty on his birthday next week. Wishing you much continued success in everything that you do Mendel in both gashmius and ruchnius, and with much simchah!
Mazal Tov to Claude on his upcoming Birthday. Wishing you a year of good health Claude, and a refuah shleimah!
Mazal Tov to Adam Frankel on his birthday next week. Always warm feelings when I have the chance to communicate Adam. Wishing you a wonderful year!
Mazal Tov to Yeshayah on his birthday tonight! Keep up all the good work you are doing Yeshayah, giving your parents much nachas! Wishing you a year of much growth and happiness!
Mazal Tov to Shneur Zalman Davidoff Jnr for his birthday on Shabbos. Lovely learning with you each week Shneur Zalman, and wishing you to have much success in all your learning and activities with much chayus!
We are currently in the month of Iyar, and it is said that Iyar is a propitious month for HEALING.
It has been pointed out that the word Iyar is an acronym for the Hebrew words Ani Hashem Rofecha (I am G-d your Healer), from the verse, "If you will follow My Ways..the diseases I have placed on Egypt, I will not place upon you, for I am G-d your Healer." (Exodus 15:26).
So I found some interesting points about HEALTH, mainly from an article about Rambam - 'Maimonides: The Reluctant Doctor Who Changed Medicine', - which I would like to share.
- Once the ruler of Egypt said to his doctor, the Rambam, 'All my life I have had good health, and I have never had the opportunity to test your abilities in medicine.' The Rambam replied, 'The greatness of a doctor is tested in preventing illness, more than curing it.' And Rambam quoted the above verse to the Sultan.
- Hundreds of halachos testify to the value of the Jewish body before Hashem
- Laws of forbidden foods
- Laws of family life
- Laws of fasting
- Laws of the desecration of Shabbos and Yom Kippur (The Rebbe)
- 'Maintaining a healthy and sound body is among the ways of G-d, for one cannot understand or have any knowledge of the Creator if one is ill. Therefore one must avoid that which harms the body, and accustom oneself to that which is healthful, and which helps the body to become stronger.' (Rambam , Deot 4:1)
- 'The health of the body depends on the health of the soul.' (Rambam, Regimen of Health Chap 3)
- 'Fresh air is the foremost rule in preserving the health of body and soul.' (Rambam, Treatise on Asthma Chap 13)
- 'Overindulgence in food, drink, or sleep is a cause of illness, while moderation in these is the cornerstone of health.' (Rambam, Medical Aphorisms of Moses, Aphorism 12:5)
- 'The physician should constantly seek wisdom and not be ashamed to learn from anyone.' (Rambam Medical Aphorisms of Moses, Aphorism 9:6)
Rambam (Maimonides), (1138- 1204) in addition to his primary fame in his works on Jewish Law and Philosophy, also came to be a famous physician in the court of the Sultan of Egypt, and it is said that Richard the Lion Hearted also invited him to be his personal physician. Besides managing his demanding practice he also authored 10 influential medical treatises.
Wishing good health to all and a Gut Shabbos!